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Center for Victims of Torture Condemns Severe Reduction in Refugee Resettlement to the U.S.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

ST. PAUL, Minn. and WASHINGTON —The Center for Victims of TortureTM (CVT) today expressed outrage at the news of a severe reduction in refugee resettlement to the United States for FY2018.

“We are outraged by news that President Trump will dramatically cut the number of refugees admitted to the United States for FY2018. Thousands upon thousands of refugees—including children—have survived gruesome and inhuman torture, and they see resettlement as their only hope. Welcoming fewer than 75,000 refugees to this country is grossly misguided: lowering that number to 45,000 is a breathtaking display of callousness unworthy of the highest office in the land.

"This is an indefensible decision, driven by xenophobia and racism cloaked in bogus national security and cost arguments. Refugees are the most heavily vetted entrants to the United States. Refugees enrich our communities. They benefit our economy. They desperately need, and deserve, our help. It is simply unconscionable that, with the world facing the worst refugee crisis in history, the United States is choosing instead to turn its back." —Curt Goering, CVT executive director

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The Center for Victims of Torture is a nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Paul, MN, with offices in Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C.; and healing initiatives in Africa and the Middle East.